Skiing boot

ABSTRACT

The outer shell of the skiing boot has a top rim, a heel portion spaced below said top rim, means defining a step-in opening extending in said outer shell above said heel portion and having an open end at said top rim, closing means adapted to close said step-in opening, and an instep portion, which has a center line and is formed with a plurality of motion-enabling apertures extending across said center line. A plurality of coverings are removably held in and close said apertures and consist of an elastic material having a lower stiffness than the material of said outer shell adjacent to said apertures.

I United States Patent 91 [111 3,832,792

Kastinger Sept. 3, 1974 SKIING BOOT [76] Inventor: Max Kastinger, Seewalchen AM Prlmary j ig Attersee, Austria Attorney, gent, or trmurt elman 22] Filed: May 14, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 360,085

The outer shell of the skiing boot has a top rim, a heel portion spaced below said top rim, means defining a [30] Fore'gn Apphcatlon Pnomy Data step-in opening extending in said outer shell above Feb. 20, 1973 Austria 1459/73 aid heel portion and having an open end at said top rim, closing means adapted to close said step-in open- [52] US. Cl. 36/2-5 AL ing, and an instep portion, which has a center line and [51] III. Cl A43b 00/00 i formed with a plurality of motion-enabling apertures Fleld of Search R, AL, 50 extending across said center line. A plurality of coverings are removably held in and close said apertures Rgfelellces Cited and consist of an elastic material having a lower stiff- UNITED STATES PATENTS ness than the material of said outer shell adjacent to 3,535,800 10/1970 Stohr 36/25 AL 531d apertures- 3,7l3,231 1/1973 Mochizuki 36/25 AL I 2 3,738,025 6/1973 Hanson et al. 36/25 AL 9 C Drawng gums PATENTEDSEPB 19 FIG] SKIING BOOT This invention relates to a skiing boot, which comprises an outer shell, which has a step-in opening that is disposed over the heel and extends to the upper rim of the outer shell and is adapted to be closed by a flap or by overlapping edge portions of the outer shell. In said boot, the flexural stiffness of the instep portion of the outer shell can be varied.

In skiing boots of this kind, the outer shell is relatively hard and is normally made of synthetic resin or another plastics material, such as polyurethane, in one piece with the sole of the boot, e.g., by injection molding or casting. The adaptation of the boot to the foot and lower leg of the wearer is enabled by the provision of a cushioning lining in the inner shoe or by the formation of foam therein or by the provision of cushions which are inserted between the outer shell and are deformable or can be filled with foam formed therein. With boots of this kind, the foot even when covered by the inner shoe can be relatively easily moved into and out of the outer shell through the step-in opening adjacent to the heel. A forward lean of the lower leg relative to the foot can be enforced, and the boot can be closed by means of one or two buckles provided on the outer shell. The tightening of the closing buckles to varying degrees will not change the preadjusted forward lean.

in known skiing boots of this kind, the flexural stiff ness of the instep portion of the outer shell can be varied only within very close limits. To enable any variation at all, the outer shell of these known boots is provided with a rib which extendsthroughout the length of the instep portion and is formed with closely spaced, parallel, transverse bores, in which rotatable members are fitted, which have such a shape in cross-section that the periphery of the bore defines a circle that is circumscribed around said cross-section but is not completely filled by said cross-section. Hence, these members have a non-circular cross-section and depending on their rotational position enable to a smaller or larger extent a deformation of that portion of the bore which is left free by them. As a result, the flexural stiffness of the instep portion of the outer shell can be varied within close limits, as has been stated. By the means which are provided, the flexural stiffness cannot be varied to such an extent that one and the same outer shell can be.

made either so hard that the angle between the foot and the lower leg cannot be altered at all such hardness is preferred by proficient skiers and racers or so soft that the angle between the foot and the lower leg can be substantially altered, as is preferred by beginners and less skilled skiers. So far, different outer shells had to be used to provide for these extreme conditions, or the outer shells had to be made entirely of a more or less stiff material.

In a skiing boot of the kind defined first hereinbefore, the invention resides in that the outer shell is provided with a plurality of motion-enabling apertures, which extend across the instep and preferably have their largest witdth at the instep, and coverings made of a resilient material which has a lower stiffness are replaceably inserted into said apertures preferably from the inside of the shell.

Although the skiing boot according to the invention may be made of relatively stiff material, it will have only a low flexural stiffness owing to the motionenabling apertures in the instep portions unless the coverings are inserted. Because the motion-enabling apertures are provided, the quarter of the boot cannot bulge out adjacent to the ankle when the quarter portion which encloses the foot is angled toward the quarter portion which encloses the lower leg. Such bulging will be observed in such case in a boot in which a relatively easily deformable material has been used to provide a soft quarter. In the boot according to the invention, the outer shell has a sufficiently high lateral stability adl jacent to the ankle. Coverings differing in resistance to deformation may be inserted for an exact adaptation of the flexural stiffness of the instep portion to individual requirements. The use of coverings of stiff material will result in a stiff skiing boot, and the use of coverings of easily deformable material, such as soft rubber, will result in a soft" skiing boot.

Coverings differing in stiffness may be inserted one beside the other in a given aperture for adaptation to individual requirements. The beginner may insert suitable coverings in such a manner as to have a soft skiing boot when he begins skiing, and he may adjust this skiing boot to a higher hardness as his requirements increase with his skill. The adaptation can be facilitated by the use of coverings in different colors representing different degrees of hardness.

To simplify the storage, it will be recommendable to provide identical motion-enabling apertures and identical coverings so that each covering tits in each motion enabling aperture of any skiing boot of a series. Alternatively, the coverings for all respective motionenabling apertures of a boot may be interconnected to provide an integral member.

According to a further feature of the invention, the thickness of the coverings exceeds the thickness of the outer shell in the portions to be provided with the coverings, and those portions of the coverings which respectively protrude outwardly and inwardly from the motion-enabling apertures are shaped to form base portions, or detents for holding the coverings in position, or portions serving similar purposes.

The subject matter of the invention is illustrated by way of example on the drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing diagrammatically a skiing boot according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the outer shell along the center line of the instep portion adjacent to a motion-enabling aperture.

The skiing boot comprises an inner shoe 1, which is preferably removable or may be secured in the outer shell, and an outer shell 3, which is integral with the sole 2 and which above the heel portion 4 has a step-in opening, which can be closed by a flap 8, which is connected to the outer shell by a hinge 6 and has edges 7 which overlap the edges of the step-in opening when the flap is in closing position. The flap 8 is secured to the outer shell 3 by buckles, not shown.

The outer shell is formed in its instep portion with a plurality of motion-enabling apertures 5, which extend across the instep portion and preferably have the largest width at the center line of the instep portion. Coverings 9 made from a material which has a lower stiffness than the outer shell 3 are replaceably snapped into the apertures 5 from the inside of the outer shell 3. The thickness of the coverings 9 exceeds the thickness of the outer shell 3 adjacent to the motion-enabling apertures 5. The coverings 9 have on the inside an enlarged base portion 10 and on the outside they are provided with an annular bead 11. When the coverings have been pushed through from the inside to the outside with elastic deformation, the annular bead ll of each covering snaps over the outer edge of the correspond ing motion-enabling aperture 5 so that the covering is held on the outer shell and the motion-enabling aperture 5 is tightly sealed.

In the embodiment which is shown, the shape and number of the motion-enabling apertures 5 are represented only by way of example in the embodiment which is shown and can be varied as may be required.

What is claimed is:

1. In a skiing boot which comprises an outer shell having a top rim, a heel portion spaced below the top rim, means defining a step-in opening extending in the outer shell above the heel portion and having an open end at the top rim, closing means adapted to close the step-in opening, and an instep portion which has a center line and is formed with means for adjusting the flexing of the instep portion extending across the center line, the improvement of the instep portion flexing adjusting means comprising a plurality of motionenabling apertures passing through the instep portion and being open from the inside and the outside of the instep portion, and a corresponding plurality of coverings removably held in, and closing, the open apertures, the apertures having a width decreasing from the center line towards the ends thereof, and the coverings outer shell.

4. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 1, in which said coverings are adapted to be removed from said apertures toward the inside of said outer shell.

5. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 1, in which said motion-enabling apertures are identical and said coverings are identical.

6. A akiing boot which comprises an outer shell having a top rim, a heel portion spaced below said top rim, means defining a step-in opening extending in said outer shell above said heel portion and having an open end at said top rim, closing means adapted to close said step-in opening, and an instep portion which has a center line and is formed with a plurality of motion-enabling apertures extending across said center line, and plurality of coverings which are removably held in and close said apertures and consist of an elastic 1 material having a lower stiffness than the material of said outer shell adjacent to said apertures, each of said coverings having an inner portion protruding inwardly from said outer shell, an outer portion protruding outwardly from said shell, an intermediate portion disposed within one of said motionenabling apertures, and said inner and outer portion differing in shape from said intermediate portion.

7. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 6, in which said being of an elastic material having a lower stiffness that apertures have a larger Width at said center line than that of the outer shell adjacent the apertures.

2. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 1, in which said closing means comprise a flap which is hinged to said outer shell and adapted to cover said step-in opening.

3. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 1, in which said means defining said step-in opening and said closing means consist of overlapping edge portions of said with said outer shell. 

1. In a skiing boot which comprises an outer shell having a top rim, a heel portion spaced below the top rim, means defining a step-in opening extending in the outer shell above the heel portion and having an open end at the top rim, closing means adapted to close the step-in opening, and an instep portion which has a center line and is formed with means for adjusting the flexing of the instep portion extending across the center line, the improvement of the instep portion flexing adjusting means comprising a plurality of motion-enabling apertures passing through the instep portion and being open from the inside and the outside of the instep portion, and a corresponding plurality of coverings removably held in, and closing, the open apertures, the apertures having a width decreasing from the center line towards the ends thereof, and the coverings being of an elastic material having a lower stiffness that that of the outer shell adjacent the apertures.
 2. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 1, in which said closing means comprise a flap which is hinged to said outer shell and adapted to cover said step-in opening.
 3. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 1, in which said means defining said step-in opening and said closing means consist of overlapping edge portions of said outer shell.
 4. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 1, in which said coverings are adapted to be removed from said apertures toward the inside of said outer shell.
 5. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 1, in which said motion-enabling apertures are identical and said coverings are identical.
 6. A akiing boot which comprises an outer shell having a top rim, a heel portion spaced below said top rim, means defining a step-in opening extending in said outer shell above said heel portion and having an open end at said top rim, closing means adapted to close said step-in opening, and an instep portion which has a center line and is formed with a plurality of motion-enabling apertures extending across said center line, and a plurality of coverings which are removably held in and close said apertures and consist of an elastic material having a lower stiffness than the material of said outer shell adjacent to said apertures, each of said coverings having an inner portion protruding inwardly from said outer shell, an outer portion protruding outwardly from said shell, an intermediate portion disposed within one of said motion-enabling apertures, and said inner and outer portion differing in shape from said intermediate portion.
 7. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 6, in which said apertures have a larger width at said center line than remote from said center line.
 8. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 6, in which said inner portion consists of a base portion overlapping adjacent portions of said outer shell.
 9. A skiing boot as set forth in claim 6, in which said outer portion consists of a detent portion interlocking with said outer shell. 041230236 